No passport? No problem! This destination wedding editorial had all the feels of Italy in Texas! Get the inside scoop on this styled shoot by reading our interview with the lovely shoot’s photographer, Catie Perez.

Q: How did this styled shoot first get started?
A: I reached out to the manager of The Sanctuary with the idea of showcasing Adriatica Village in a way I had never seen done. I felt like there was so much untapped potential for weddings, especially with how difficult destination weddings are right now. The Sanctuary got other vendors involved and it turned into a shoot that had much of the entire Village involved.

Q: What was the inspiration for the theme/style of the shoot? How did the location of the shoot influence it?
A: The inspiration for me was the location and its European charm. I would see all of these Italian destination weddings online and thought Adriatica rivaled those locations in it’s charm and beauty. To highlight the destination feel of the shoot, we wanted to highlight a simple, intimate reception space, along with showcasing some of the other destinations that could be used for wedding weekends.

Q: Tell us about the ceremony look. What elements were included and why?
A: The Bella Donna Chapel is so beautiful on its own that we did not add anything to that space.

Q: Tell us about the reception look. What elements were included and why?
A: The reception look was inspired by an intimate family-style feel. We wanted it to feel cozy, not overdone, but still beautiful. Our colors were fairly light to offset the darker reception space. We brought in live trees and greenery panels to make it seem more al fresco.

Q: How did the team of vendors work together?
A: Our vendor team was amazing. What started as a simple shoot to highlight The Sanctuary’s reception space just took off once we involved Mandi at The Bella Donna. Her vision of a Vespa among the cobblestone streets in the Village, paired with her eye for fashion really took our shoot up a notch.

Q: What was your favorite part of the shoot and why?
A: My favorite part of the shoot was the Welcome Dinner scene. I felt like this was something totally achievable by anyone getting married in the Village, and it’s something that has not been done yet. The Sanctuary is actually a concert venue, as well, and is attached to a Guitar Sanctuary. We brought in a guitarist from the Guitar Sanctuary to add a level of intimacy and charm. Everything we did in this shoot is possible for a wedding in Adriatica, and we felt like it hadn’t been showcased to its full potential – until now.

Vendors: Photography: Catie Ann Photography; Ceremony Venue: Bella Donna Chapel; Reception Venue: The Sanctuary; Bridal Brunch Venue: Adriatica Studios; Welcome Dinner Venue: ZinZen Wine Bistro; Stationery and Signage: Each and Every Detail; Beauty: WZ Beauty Studio; Models: Marshall Price & Nataly Lorenzo; Rentals: Five Star Events; Farmhouse Tables: Once Upon a Table Rentals; Welcome Dinner Attire: Karadise Boutique; Hat: Love Life Boutique; Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse; Vespa: Kyle’s Scooter Shop; Trees: Calloway’s Nursery